The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is considering awarding Libya three points if the Super Eagles choose to boycott their upcoming AFCON 2025 qualifier scheduled for Tuesday. This potential decision comes in light of a distressing incident where the Super Eagles were reportedly stranded for an alarming 13 hours at Libya’s Al Abraq Airport without access to food or basic amenities.
Gistreel reported that the Super Eagles were left stranded for 13 hours, highlighting the dire circumstances faced by the Nigerian team during their travel. The situation has raised significant concerns about the treatment of the players and the overall conditions under which they were forced to wait. The captain of the Super Eagles, William Troost-Ekong, took to social media platform X to voice his dissatisfaction with the situation and called upon CAF to intervene in the matter. In his post, he stated, “As the captain together with the team we have decided that we will NOT play this game.”
Troost-Ekong further urged CAF to thoroughly investigate the reports concerning their treatment, expressing the gravity of the situation by stating, “CAF should look at the report and what is happening here. Even if they decide to allow this kind of behaviour, let them have the points.” His remarks underscore the frustration and disappointment felt by the team regarding the lack of support and consideration during their travels.
In a subsequent development, a statement from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) confirmed that the Super Eagles will no longer participate in the second match of the AFCON qualifier after securing a home victory in the first leg last Friday. This decision reflects the team's resolve to stand against the perceived mistreatment they have experienced.
However, it is important to note that should the Super Eagles proceed with their boycott, CAF could impose penalties on the three-time African champions for their decision to not participate in the game. Conversely, if CAF finds that Libya has indeed mistreated the 2024 AFCON finalists, the North African side could face significant sanctions as a consequence of their actions. This situation has sparked a broader discussion about player welfare and the responsibilities of football associations to ensure safe and respectful conditions for all teams during competitions.